The Estonian Education System: TTR Special - Tom Rogers with Kristina Kallas

In this one off show, we speak to Estonia’s Minister of Education, Kristina Kallas, to find out what’s behind the country’s reputation for having one of the best education systems in Europe.

We explore how teachers are trained, paid, and supported in Estonia — and how that compares to the UK. From classroom teaching methods and SEND provision to workload, behaviour, and the role of support staff, this is a chance to hear what works elsewhere and why.

We also dig into Estonia’s approach to curriculum, technology, and assessment. What’s their policy on mobile phones? How do they use AI? And what role do national tests play?

Finally, we ask: what could the UK take from Estonia’s model — and are there any elements of the UK system that Estonia is watching closely?